In our continuing coronation series, we look at the 5th and reigning Katikkiro of Buganda Kingdom Charles Peter Mayiga under kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi.
By any measure, Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga, one of the youngest people to occupy the post, has performed exceptionally well.
A lawyer by profession, starting in 1991, Mayiga had been working closely with the elders of the kingdom of Buganda, sharpening his knowledge and understanding of the customs and traditions of Buganda.
He served as Administrative Secretary and assistant to the Secretary General of the Ssaabataka's Supreme Council (the name given to Buganda Lukiiko at the time since it was still outlawed under the 1967 Constitution). Later, he was appointed Principal Administrative Secretary.
He was appointed member of the Lukiiko in 1994 and in 1995, Ssaabasajja Kabaka appointed him Deputy Minister in Charge of the Lukiiko.
In service to the kingdom, the kabaka appointed him Minister for Youth, Cabinet Affairs and Lukiiko Affairs and later Information and Kingdom Spokesman. He served in that capacity until he was appointed Prime Minister of Buganda in May 2013.
“When JB walusimbi was handing over office to me on 13th May 2013, he told me,'nze ntadekko ettofali lyange kati budde bubyo oteekeko eliryo' ( I have played my part)," he told The Nile Post.
Mayiga's appointment brought with it a lot of excitement not just in Buganda but in Uganda and beyond
He kicked off his reign by promising transparency and restoring Buganda’s lost glory. He visited churches and mosques restoring hope in Buganda once again.
Mayiga not only mentioned rebuilding the royal tombs but stood by every word he said. To do this he launched a popular fundraising drive, the famous “Etoffali” drive .
“I realised a person with Shs 20,000 in Mityana can’t move to Bulange to contribute because the transport costs could even be higher, but when you go to them, they would contribute. This I saw from enthusiasm exhibited when receiving the king," Mayiga told The Nile Post.
The young, the old, the poor, the rich, the Baganda and the non Baganda all joined in the contribution.
As momentum grew for the fundraising, the country’s national legislative assembly was not left out.
He was hosted to a special session and MPs contributed in their capacities and by the time the Kabaka put a halt to the drive, Shs 13 billion had been raised in just 3 years.
From here he embarked on a mission to complete the construction of the Masengere building which houses the kingdom's BBS television. The building was inaugurated by Kabaka Mutebi on his 60th birthday celebrations.
It is during Mayiga’s administration that President Museveni delivered over 200 land titles to the kingdom with the central government accepting to pay what belongs to Buganda.
“Cast in the position I am, you need to work for what is good for the kingdom, you don’t put personal consideration. When u do that, you make very little progress. When you are a katikkiro, you have to engage the president. Not President Museveni per say, who ever is the president at the time," he said.
The Masaza Cup, the Kabaka Birthday Run and other events organized by the kingdom that now attract thousands of people have been hyped up under Mayiga’s leadership with a call for unity.
